Bobbin segregating and orienting apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for segregating a jumbled mass of bobbins and delivery of the bobbins one at a time in axial orientation. A chain conveyor includes a plurality of buckets for receiving bobbins. These buckets open inwardly and together form the bottom of a hopper which receives the jumbled bobbins. As the conveyor is driven, a bucket receives a bobbin from the hopper and carries the bobbin upwardly along a substantially straight path to a discharge chute at an upper portion of the apparatus. The buckets have a particular cross-sectional configuration so that when they are on the straight upwardly extending path they will retain only one bobbin having a rounded cross-section and within a particular range of diameters varying from an empty bobbin core to a full bobbin. If a second bobbin is picked up by a bucket it will drop from the bucket along the straight path and fall back into the hopper. By varying the inclination of the buckets along the straight portion of the path, the range may be varied. A bobbin in the hopper may tend to align itself with its axis parallel to the direction of movement of the buckets and would thus block the buckets from receiving bobbins having their axes transverse to the path of movement of the buckets. Such a parallel bobbin is flipped over so that it falls back onto the hopper with its axis transverse to the path of movement of the buckets. Bobbins are fed into the hopper responsive to a reduction in weight of the bobbins in the hopper and the hopper is driven intermittently to deliver bobbins one at a time responsive to an external demand.

United States Patent Cruickshank et a1.

[4 1 June 27, 1972 [54] BOBBIN SEGREGATING AND ORIENTING APPARATUS [73] Assignee: Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.l. 22 Filed: July 18, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 842,948

[52] U.S.Cl ..221/161,221/l74,221/241 [51] Int. Cl ..B23q 7/12 [58] Field ofSearch ..221/159, 160,161, 156,157,

22l/158,l74, 175, 241, 253, 213; 198/33 AA Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-James M. Slattery Attorney-Albert P. Davis and Burnett W. Norton [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for segregating a jumbled mass of bobbins and delivery of the bobbins one at a time in axial orientation. A chain conveyor includes a plurality of buckets for receiving bobbins. These buckets open inwardly and together form the bottom of a hopper which receives the jumbled bobbins. As the conveyor is driven, a bucket receives a bobbin from the hopper and carries the bobbin upwardly along a substantially straight path to a discharge chute at an upper portion of the apparatus. The buckets have a particular cross-sectional configuration so that when they are on the straight upwardly extending path they will retain only one bobbin having a rounded crosssection and within a particular range of diameters varying from an empty bobbin core to a full bobbin if a second bobbin is picked up by a bucket it will drop from the bucket along the straight path and fall back into the hopper. By varying the inclination of the buckets along the straight portion of the path, the range may be varied. A bobbin in the hopper may tend to align itself with its axis parallel to the direction of movement of the buckets and would thus block the buckets from receiving bobbins having their axes transverse to the path of movement of the buckets. Such a parallel bobbin is flipped over so that it falls back onto the hopper with its axis transverse to the path of movement of the buckets. Bobbins are fed into the hopper responsive to a reduction in weight of the bobbins in the hopper and the hopper is driven intermittently to deliver bobbins one at a time responsive to an external demand.

21 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJum m2 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTORS DAVID G. CRUICKSHANK DAVID T. GUERIN on w\ BY M DM Wm. M

ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJHNZ? m2 f 3. 672.542 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTORS DAVID G. CRUICKSHANK DAVID T. GUERIN /4 BM W w. W

ATTOR NEYS BOBBIN SEGREGATING AND ORIENTING APPARATUS This invention relates to an apparatus for handling bobbins and, more particularly, to such apparatus for segregating and orienting bobbins.

A related case is a co-pending Leesona Corporation U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 666,626, filed Sept. 11, 1967, and is incorporated by reference, and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,990.

As used herein the term bobbin means any core or other member on which yarn may be or is wound so that the yarn may be moved from place to place. The term filled bobbin" means a bobbin having a winding of yarn thereon, whether full or partially full. The term yarn" is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise.

Various attempts at automatically handling bobbins have had little, if any, commercial success. Various proposed machines for automatically orienting filled bobbins have generally produced rough handling of the bobbins and required some pre-orientation, such as cording of the bobbins. Part of the difficulty encountered with such attempted apparatus is that that of scuffing or otherwise damaging yarn on the filled bobbins, and most orienting equipment is unsuited for handling both full and partially full bobbins which occur from time to time. Another difficulty is that many textile mills use the same equipment for different sizes and types of bobbins and the orienting equipment has generally not been sufficiently adjustable to meet the various requirements. Still another problem is that when the bobbins are delivered to the orienting equipment in a randomly jumbled condition some of the bobbins may become positioned in the apparatus so as to interfere with proper operation of the equipment.

The invention is, in brief, directed to an automatic apparatus for segregating and orienting bobbins. A continuous series of bobbin receiving conveyor buckets forms a hopper for randomly jumbled bobbins from which the buckets receive the bobbins. The buckets have a particular cross-sectional configuration so that only one bobbin within a particular range of bobbin diameters is retained in the bucket as it moves upwardly along a straight portion of a path. If more than one bobbin is carried by a bucket the bucket remains in a desired orientation on the straight portion for a sufficient period of time that the second bobbin will drop therefrom. At an upper portion of the apparatus the bobbins are delivered with their axes similarly oriented. Any bobbins in the hopper which have their axes parallel to the path of movement of the buckets are caused to be positioned with their axes transverse to the path to avoid blocking off a portion of each bucket which could result in failure of the bucket to receive a bobbin from the hopper.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved bobbin handling apparatus.

Another object is to provide a new and improved bobbin handling apparatus for segregating a mass of bobbins.

A still further object is provision of a new and improved apparatus for delivering bobbins with their axes similarly oriented.

A further object is provision of a new and improved apparatus for handling a mass of jumbled bobbins and effectively preventing any of the bobbins from remaining in a position deterring handling of the bobbins. A more specific, related object is provision for effectively preventing the bobbins from becoming axially aligned with the path of movement of bobbin receivers which can only receive bobbins which are substantially transversed to the path of movement.

A more specific object is provision of new and improved bobbin handling apparatus for segregating randomly jumbled bobbins and delivering the bobbins in an oriented condition, and for correcting detrimental alignment of the jumbled bobbins.

Objects related to the above enumerated objects include provision for segregating and orienting randomly jumbled bobbins. A further related object is provision for delivering the segregated bobbins one at a time. Another related object is provision for delivering the bobbins with their axes oriented.

Still another related object is provision for handling bobbins having different diameters within a particular range of diameters which varies from bobbin to bobbin. Another related object is provision for concurrently handling empty, partially full or full bobbins. A further related object is provision for selec tively handling bobbins within different ranges of sizes.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic end elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic left side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, schematic right side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but with a portion of the apparatus in a differently adjusted position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary schematic sectional view of a lower portion of the apparatus taken generally along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1; with parts removed for clearer illustration; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary schematic view taken generally along the line 7-7 in FIG. 3, with parts removed for clearer illustration.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the bobbin handling apparatus includes a pair of opposed rigid plates providing a left sidewall 10 and a right sidewall 12 rigidly secured to each other in any suitable manner as by spacers (not shown) and a retaining wall 14 (dotted lines in FIG. 3). Rigid legs 16 are fixedly secured, one to each of the sidewall 10 and I2, and anchored on a suitable base 18.

A pair of conveyor chains 20 are mounted on the frame to move about edges of the sidewalls 10 and 12. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each chains 20 passes around a driven sprocket 22 fixedly mounted on a drive shaft 24 extending through and journalled in the sidewalls 10 and 12. From the driven sprocket 22 the chains 20 each depend to lower guide sprockets 26 journalled on shafts 28 fixed to the respective sidewalls, then passes through upwardly curved chain tracks 30 and through straight upwardly extending chain tracks 32 fixedly secured to the respective sidewalls from which the chains 20 passes about upper guide sprockets 34 journalled on shafts 36 fixed to the respective sidewalls, and back to the respective driven sprockets 22. The chains 20 are driven by a motor 38 mounted on a bracket 40 fixed to the left sidewall 10 and the motor carries a sprocket 42 which receives a drive chain 44 extending around a drive sprocket 46 fixedly secured on the left end of the drive shaft 24.

A plurality of bobbin receiving buckets 50 have opposite ends, one secured to each adjacent chain 20 by means of pivots 52 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7), with the pivots 52 of each bucket 50 aligned along an axis perpendicular to the chains 20, and as illustrated best in FIG. 7 along a generally horizontal axis. The left-hand pivots 52 are on arms 54 (FIG. 7) of each bucket which also has another arm 55 carrying a rotatably mounted wheel 56 received in a channel-shaped wheel track 58 extending about the left sidewall 10. The wheel track 58 has a generally vertical portion 60 and an upper curved portion 62 fixedly secured to the left sidewall 10 in any suitable manner as by mounting plates 64. An adjustable portion 66 of the wheel track 58 is adjustably secured to the left chain track 32 by a pair of brackets 68 having diagonal, elongated slots 70 which receive studs 72 extending form the left chain track 32 so that the adjustable track 66 may be moved toward or away from the adjacent chain track 32 and may be secured in place by nuts 74 on the studs 72. An inclined flange 76 extends outwardly from the upper end of the lower portion of wheel track 58 and a similar flange 78 extends outwardly from the upper end of the adjustable wheel track 66 for guiding the wheels 56.

A lower curved portion 80 (FIG. 3) of the wheel track 58 is fixedly secured to an arm 82 pivoted by a pin 84 at its left end (FIG. 2) to a bracket 86 fixed to the left sidewall 10. The other end of the pivoted wheel track arm 82 is supported by a tension spring 88 (FIGS. 1 and 2) secured thereto and to the lower bracket 64 which supports the fixed wheel track 60. Bobbins 90 are deposited through an opening 92 in the right sidewall 12 and drop in a randomly jumbled condition into a portion of the apparatus which provides a hopper 94 between the opposed sidewalls and 12, the conveyor buckets 50 which are at the lower portion of the apparatus, and the retaining wall 14 between the opposed sidewalls. At its lower end the retaining wall 14 is angled inwardly toward the center of the apparatus to deflect the bobbins 90 toward the center of the hopper 94.

- Bobbins 90 are fed into the hopper 94 responsive to demand of the apparatus for bobbins and this demand is determined by the weight of the bobbins in the hopper. Weight sensing apparatus includes the pivoted section of the wheel track 80 and arm 82 and their supporting spring 88 at one end, and a pair of valves including one valve 96 (FIGS. 1-3) secured in any suitable manner as to the base 18 for sensing when the track 80 has been depressed sufficiently to indicate an adequate weight of bobbins 90 in the hopper 94 and then providing a signal stopping further delivery of bobbins to the hopper, and a second valve 98 (FIG. 2) secured to the lower end of the fixed wheel track 60 for engaging the upper end of the pivoted track 80 and providing a signal to initiate delivery of bobbins 90 to the hopper 94 when the weight of the bobbins in the hopper is depleted sufficiently so that the spring 88 raises the end of the pivoted track 80 to actuate the valve 98.

As the conveyor chains 20 move the buckets 50 in the direction indicated by the arrows 100, the lower buckets 50 move along the bobbins 90 in the hopper 94 and the bobbins drop into the buckets. From the hopper 94 the bobbins are conveyed upwardly along the straight and adjustable portion of the path defined by chain track 32 and wheel track 66, with their longitudinal axes oriented and generally parallel to each other and, as illustrated, with their axes inclined slightly (about to the path of the buckets. At the top of this straight portion of the wheel track 66, the fixed wheel track 62 curves slightly outwardly and then inwardly across the top of the apparatus so that the bobbins 90 are dumped from the buckets and are deposited one at a time in a chute 102 (FIG. 3) leading to a suitable end orienting apparatus 104 fixedly secured to the left-hand sidewall 10 and extending partially through an opening 106 therein with a discharge passageway 108 of the end orientor outside of the left-hand sidewall 10 and through which the bobbins 90 are delivered with a larger diameter end 110 of the bobbin core 112 downwardly. The motor 38 is preferably operated intermittently to deliver only one bobbin to the end orientor 104 responsive to demand of the end orientor for a bobbin.

Each bucket 50 will convey only one bobbin 90 at a time to the chute 102. It should be understood that the bobbins 90 deposited in randomly jumbled condition in the hopper 94 are all similar to each other but may vary in diameter within a particular range depending on whether the bobbin is full of yarn,

partially full of yarn or is wholly empty of yarn so that only the bobbin core 110 is carried in the bucket. By way of example, one such range may include bobbin cores 112 having a 1% in. diameter at the larger end 110 and a l in. diameter at the opposite smaller end 114 with a body of yarn 116 on a full bobbin having a diameter of 3 in. Another range may include 1% and in. core diameters at opposite ends and a full bobbin diameter of 2 in. Full bobbins in different batches may taper or be cylindrical or arched throughout the main portion of the body of yarn.

Such particular ranges of bobbin diameters which may vary from bobbin to bobbin handled by the apparatus with only one bobbin at a time being delivered to the chute 102. This is accomplished by adjusting the inclination of the buckets 50 along the straight upwardly moving portion of the path and by the bucket configuration shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5 which is a transverse cross-section taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. I. A bottom wall 118 of each bucket 50 has a supporting surface 120 convexly upwardly arched so that the center of gravity of the maximum diameter bobbin within the range is directly above a portion 122 of the supporting surface which is upwardly inclined from an upper wall 124. The upper wall 124 has a lower surface 126 extending inwardly from the lower end of the upwardly inclined portion 122 of the supporting surface and provides restraining means for limiting generally rolling movement of the bobbin downwardly along the inclined portion 122. The convex supporting surface 120 also has a declining portion 128 outwardly of the upwardly inclined portion 122 to facilitate adjustability, as will be discussed later. The upper wall 124 overlies and is inclined over the convex supporting surface 120 in such a manner that a core 112, which is the smallest diameter bobbin 90 within any particular range, will be outwardly overcenter on a lower bobbin 90 and can not remain atop the lower bobbin (even if it is another core) but falls therefrom back into the hopper 94 when the bucket is along the upwardly extending substantially straight portion of its path of travel.

The straight upwardly moving portion of the path defined by chain track 32 and the adjustable wheel track 66, permits adequate time for the bobbins 90 to adjust in the buckets 50 and for a second bobbin 90 to fall from the bucket before the bobbins reach the chute 102 at the upper portion of the apparatus. By adjusting the adjustable wheel track 66 (FIG. 2) the inclination of the buckets 50 on the straight portion of their upward path of travel may be varied, as shown by a comparison of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, so' that the point at which the convex supporting surface 120 changes outwardly from upwardly inclining portion 122 to a declining portion 128 varies to accommodate larger or smaller maximum diameter bobbins and the relative disposition of the upper or overlying surface 126 also changes to prevent a bobbin stacking on another bobbin.

A shield or deflector 130 (FIGS. 1-3) may be provided in the hopper 94 and is preferably of flexible material suspended as by a bar 132 at its upper edge with the bar secured to the opposite sidewalls 10 and 12, for easying the fall of bobbins 90 dropping from the buckets 50.

Each of the buckets 50 has along its inner edge of the bottom wall 118 on outwardly extending return portion 134 which overlies the adjacent trailing bucket 50 to prevent sharp edges engaging the bobbins 90. As may be seen in F IGS. l and 7, the buckets 50 and their inner edges, which include the return portions 134, are inclined at an angle of about 15. In the event that a bobbin 90 (FIG. 7) in the hopper 94 has its longitudinal axis aligned with the path of travel of the buckets 90 or, stated differently, parallel to the conveyor chains 20,

the inclined return edges 134 of the bottom walls 118 of the buckets 90 will cause the upper portion of such a bobbin to flip toward the center of the hopper and somewhat sideways across the hopper so that the bobbin will fall in other than its prior parallel alignment with the path of travel of the buckets. Since the bobbins are received in the buckets with the axes of the bobbins extending transversely of the path of travel of the buckets, a bobbin having its axis parallel to this path of travel would block entry of other bobbins into the buckets and it is therefore highly desirable that such parallel oriented bobbins be repositioned.

While this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment in a particular environment, various changes may be apparent to one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to be limited to such embodiment or environment except as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for handling bobbins having rounded crosssections with diameters that may vary from bobbin to bobbin within a particular range comprising, means for receiving and releasably retaining one of said bobbins at a time within said range, means for restraining said bobbin against horizontal movement in one direction, support means having an upwardly facing convex surface with a portion inclined upwardly from the restraining means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin generally directly above the inclined portion, and means for adjusting said receiving means to vary said range.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said convex surface is arched and includes a downwardly inclined portion outward of said upwardly inclined portion.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the adjusting means adjusts said receiving means to vary said range by varying the inclination of said convex surface.

4.. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the receiving means includes a plurality of bobbin receivers, and including means for moving said plurality of bobbin receivers along a common path with said plurality of bobbin receivers cooperating with each other to provide a hopper for bobbins to be delivered to said bobbin receivers.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which a straight portion of said path provides a zone wherein a second bobbin carried by one of said bobbin receivers may fall therefrom and said one bobbin may seat in a bobbin receiver.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which each bobbin receiver means overlapping and diverging from the supporting means to prevent a second of said bobbins from resting atop said one bobbin.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said overlapping means extends upwardly from the supporting means for restraining said one bobbin against said rolling movement in one direction, and said supporting means has a portion inclined upwardly from the overlapping means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin directly above the inclined portion.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said supporting means comprises an upwardly facing arched convex surface including said upwardly inclined portion and a downwardly inclined portion outward of said upwardly inclined portion relative to said restraining means.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the adjusting means adjusts said bobbin receivers to vary said range by varying the inclination of said convex surface and said overlapping means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the bobbins are elongated, the moving means moves said bobbin receivers along a path extending upwardly from said hopper, and means for deflecting bobbins in said hopper from a position with their axes generally parallel to said path to a position with their axes transverse to said path, and the deflecting means includes a portion of the receiving means inclined to said path for engaging the bobbins in said hopper, and a portion of said path proximate said hopper positioning the inclined portion to so deflect the bobbins having their axes generally parallel to said path.

11. Apparatus for handling bobbins having rounded crosssections with diameters which may vary from bobbin to bobbin within a particular range, said apparatus comprising, means for receiving bobbins and releasably retaining at one time only one bobbin within said range when the receiving means is along a substantially straight portion of an upwardly extending path, and when on said substantially straight portion of said path said receiving means having means for restraining said one bobbin against generally horizontal rolling movement in one direction, and supporting means having an upwardly convex surface inclined upwardly from the restraining means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin directly above the inclined portion for movement of the bobbin toward the restraining means, and said convex surface including a downwardly inclined portion outward of said upwardly inclined portion relative to said restraining means, and means for moving the receiving means along said upwardly extending path.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 inwhich the restraining means includes means overlapping the supporting means for effectively preventing a second of said bobbins from resting atop said one bobbin.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which the overlapping means diverges from said supporting means.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which said restraining means extends upwardly from the supporting means for restraining said one bobbin against said rolling movement in one direction, and said supporting means has a portion inclined upwardly from the overlapping means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin directly above the inclined portion.

15. Apparatus for handling bobbins comprising, a plurality of receiving means for receiving and releasably retaining bobbins having rounded cross-sections and diameters which may vary from bobbin to bobbin within a given range, each said receiving means being adapted to carry one bobbin at a time, means for moving said bobbins along a path having a generally upwardly facing portion along which said receiving means provides a hopper for bobbins to be received by said receiving means, said path having a generally upwardly moving substantially straight portion along which the bobbins are carried by said receiving means, each said receiving means including means for supporting a one bobbin and means overlapping and diverging from the supporting means for preventing a second of said bobbins from resting atop said one bobbin, said overlapping means extending upwardly from the associated supporting means and providing means along said supporting means for restraining said one bobbin against rolling movement in one direction, said supporting means having a portion inclined upwardly from the associated restraining means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin generally directly above the inclined portion, and said straight portion of said path providing a zone wherein a second bobbin carried by one of said receiving means may fail therefrom and said one bobbin may seat on said receiving means.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which said supporting means comprises an upwardly facing arched convex surface when along said substantially straight portion.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which the bobbins are elongated, and including means for deflecting bobbins in said hopper from a position with their axes generally parallel to said path to a position with their axes transverse to said path.

18. Apparatus for handling elongated bobbins comprising, means for receiving and releasably retaining a bobbin, means for moving said receiving means along a path whereat said receiving means faces upwardly and provides a hopper for bobbins to be received in the receiving means, said path having an upwardly moving substantially straight portion along which the receiving means carries the bobbins, and said receiving means including deflecting means for deflecting bobbins in said hopper from a position with their axes generally parallel to said path to a position with their axes generally transverse to said path, said deflecting means being operable to deflect the bobbins as said receiving means moves upwardly.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 18 in which the receiving means each include when along said substantially straight portion means for supporting the bobbin, and means overlapping and diverging from the supporting means for preventing a second of said bobbins from resting atop said one bobbin.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which said bobbins have a rounded cross-section with diameters which may vary from bobbin to bobbin within a particular range, and when along said substantially straight portion said receiving means may receive at one time only one bobbin within said range, said overlapping means extends upwardly from the supporting means and provides means along said supporting means for restraining said one bobbin against rolling movement in one direction, said supporting means has a portion inclined up- 21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which when along said substantially straight portion said supporting means comprises an upwardly facing arched convex surface including said upwardly inclined portion and a downwardly inclined portion outward of said upwardly inclined portion. 

1. Apparatus for handling bobbins having rounded cross-sections with diameters that may vary from bobbin to bobbin within a particular range comprising, means for receiving and releasably retaining one of said bobbins at a time within said range, means for restraining said bobbin against horizontal movement in one direction, support means having an upwardly facing convex surface with a portion inclined upwardly from the restraining means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin generally directly above the inclined portion, and means for adjusting said receiving means to vary said range.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said convex surface is arched and includes a downwardly inclined portion outward of said upwardly inclined portion.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the adjusting means adjusts said receiving means to vary said range by varying the inclination of said convex surface.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in Which the receiving means includes a plurality of bobbin receivers, and including means for moving said plurality of bobbin receivers along a common path with said plurality of bobbin receivers cooperating with each other to provide a hopper for bobbins to be delivered to said bobbin receivers.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which a straight portion of said path provides a zone wherein a second bobbin carried by one of said bobbin receivers may fall therefrom and said one bobbin may seat in a bobbin receiver.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which each bobbin receiver means overlapping and diverging from the supporting means to prevent a second of said bobbins from resting atop said one bobbin.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which said overlapping means extends upwardly from the supporting means for restraining said one bobbin against said rolling movement in one direction, and said supporting means has a portion inclined upwardly from the overlapping means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin directly above the inclined portion.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said supporting means comprises an upwardly facing arched convex surface including said upwardly inclined portion and a downwardly inclined portion outward of said upwardly inclined portion relative to said restraining means.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which the adjusting means adjusts said bobbin receivers to vary said range by varying the inclination of said convex surface and said overlapping means.
 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which the bobbins are elongated, the moving means moves said bobbin receivers along a path extending upwardly from said hopper, and means for deflecting bobbins in said hopper from a position with their axes generally parallel to said path to a position with their axes transverse to said path, and the deflecting means includes a portion of the receiving means inclined to said path for engaging the bobbins in said hopper, and a portion of said path proximate said hopper positioning the inclined portion to so deflect the bobbins having their axes generally parallel to said path.
 11. Apparatus for handling bobbins having rounded cross-sections with diameters which may vary from bobbin to bobbin within a particular range, said apparatus comprising, means for receiving bobbins and releasably retaining at one time only one bobbin within said range when the receiving means is along a substantially straight portion of an upwardly extending path, and when on said substantially straight portion of said path said receiving means having means for restraining said one bobbin against generally horizontal rolling movement in one direction, and supporting means having an upwardly convex surface inclined upwardly from the restraining means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin directly above the inclined portion for movement of the bobbin toward the restraining means, and said convex surface including a downwardly inclined portion outward of said upwardly inclined portion relative to said restraining means, and means for moving the receiving means along said upwardly extending path.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which the restraining means includes means overlapping the supporting means for effectively preventing a second of said bobbins from resting atop said one bobbin.
 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 in which the overlapping means diverges from said supporting means.
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in which said restraining means extends upwardly from the supporting means for restraining said one bobbin against said rolling movement in one direction, and said supporting means has a portion inclined upwardly from the overlapping means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin directly above the inclined portion.
 15. Apparatus for handling bobbins comprising, a plurality of receiving means for receiving and releasably retaining bobbins having rounded cross-sections and diameters which may vary from bobbin to bobbin within a given range, each said receiving means being adapted to carry one bobbin at a time, means for moving said bobbins along a path having a generally upwardly facing portion along which said receiving means provides a hopper for bobbins to be received by said receiving means, said path having a generally upwardly moving substantially straight portion along which the bobbins are carried by said receiving means, each said receiving means including means for supporting a one bobbin and means overlapping and diverging from the supporting means for preventing a second of said bobbins from resting atop said one bobbin, said overlapping means extending upwardly from the associated supporting means and providing means along said supporting means for restraining said one bobbin against rolling movement in one direction, said supporting means having a portion inclined upwardly from the associated restraining means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin generally directly above the inclined portion, and said straight portion of said path providing a zone wherein a second bobbin carried by one of said receiving means may fail therefrom and said one bobbin may seat on said receiving means.
 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which said supporting means comprises an upwardly facing arched convex surface when along said substantially straight portion.
 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 in which the bobbins are elongated, and including means for deflecting bobbins in said hopper from a position with their axes generally parallel to said path to a position with their axes transverse to said path.
 18. Apparatus for handling elongated bobbins comprising, means for receiving and releasably retaining a bobbin, means for moving said receiving means along a path whereat said receiving means faces upwardly and provides a hopper for bobbins to be received in the receiving means, said path having an upwardly moving substantially straight portion along which the receiving means carries the bobbins, and said receiving means including deflecting means for deflecting bobbins in said hopper from a position with their axes generally parallel to said path to a position with their axes generally transverse to said path, said deflecting means being operable to deflect the bobbins as said receiving means moves upwardly.
 19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 18 in which the receiving means each include when along said substantially straight portion means for supporting the bobbin, and means overlapping and diverging from the supporting means for preventing a second of said bobbins from resting atop said one bobbin.
 20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which said bobbins have a rounded cross-section with diameters which may vary from bobbin to bobbin within a particular range, and when along said substantially straight portion said receiving means may receive at one time only one bobbin within said range, said overlapping means extends upwardly from the supporting means and provides means along said supporting means for restraining said one bobbin against rolling movement in one direction, said supporting means has a portion inclined upwardly from the restraining means for supporting said one bobbin with the center of gravity of the bobbin directly above the inclined portion, and said straight portion providing a period of time for a second bobbin carried by one of said receiving means to fall therefrom and for said one bobbin to seat on said receiving means.
 21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20 in which when along said substantially straight portion said supporting means comprises an upwardly facing arched convex surface including said upwardly inclined portion and a downwardly inclined portion outward of said upwardly inclined portion. 